4, Place de la Tour
78550 HOUDAN
01 30 59 53 86
contact@tourismepayshoudanais.fr
The Houdan Keep is a 12th century tower commissioned by the Counts of Montfort. This historic monument is also a cultural space and offers exhibitions, concerts...
The Tower (commonly called "The Keep"), built in the 1889th century during the reign of the Counts of Montfort, and classified as a Historic Monument since XNUMX, had the function of watching out for enemies and defending the territory. But in reality, it mainly had a dissuasive role since it was deemed impregnable.
Built on the site of an ancient Merovingian necropolis, it originally consisted of an enclosure and a main tower. The enclosure, which has now disappeared, was equipped with a circular turret intended to defend the gate. The access door, located 4 meters from the ground then raised in the 6th century to 1 meters, was the only access to the large room on the XNUMXst floor reserved for the military leader. It was accessed via a drawbridge.
Sometimes associated with the Duchy of Brittany and sometimes with the crown of France, the Keep was given by Louis XIV, with the county of Montfort, to the Duke of Luynes. The latter sold it in 1800 to an innkeeper from Houdan, citizen Leroy. Successively owned by the Guillaume, Guignant, Davoust and Aulet families, the Keep was bequeathed by the latter to the town of Houdan in 1903.
It presents traces of its history through its numerous graffiti, some dating from the 1880th century. Used as a reserve, then as a prison and then a water tower, it underwent a certain number of changes in order to adapt to its new functions, leading in particular to the opening of a door on the ground floor. The water tower, whose first metal tank was installed in 50, was functional until the 1952s. In XNUMX, a new, more solid concrete tank was built. The tank is still present to this day, as well as part of the concrete uprights used to support it.
The Keep consists of a tower 15 m in diameter and 25 m high, flanked by 4 turrets of the same height located at the four cardinal points.
MONUMENTAL WORKS
Like any historical monument requiring renovation, the work on the keep was difficult and complicated due to the historical, architectural aspect and the planning constraints of the monument. No less than 3 and a half years of work were necessary to allow the site to regain a second youth and to be able to welcome the numerous visitors, curious to discover or rediscover this flagship monument of the Houdan landscape.
From now on, young and old will be able to explore the dungeon from bottom to top!
The Dungeon does not have an elevator. 250 steps to the terrace. The Dungeon no longer welcomes visitors thirty minutes before the establishment closes.